The Mt. Lebanon School District elementary curriculum provides students with rich and robust learning opportunities in the areas of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies for students in Kindergarten through grade five. Additionally, classes in Art, Music, Physical Education, Spanish and Library are included for grades one through five. Health is presented in grades four and five, and students may elect to play a musical instrument beginning in grade three. To learn more about the specific curriculum for each grade level, please select from the menu.

The goal of our English Language Arts curriculum is the development of critical readers and proficient writers through student-centered instruction with meaningful and appropriate text and tasks. In addition to a core reading resource, students engage with a variety of texts, including in other courses through the use of interdisciplinary themes. Writer's Workshop is a critical component of the program, in which students practice the process of writing from generating ideas, creating a draft and presenting a final product in a variety of modes for a variety of purposes.

The English Language Arts curriculum is divided into the following broad categories:

Foundations

Reading Text and Literature

Writing

Conventions

Speaking and Listening

All students receive English Language Arts instruction in grades K – 5 using a balanced literacy workshop model.

Students are provided opportunities to problem solve and think creatively using technology and manipulatives. These components of our elementary Mathematics program develop student understanding of basic skills and fundamental algorithms as well as providing opportunities for students to construct mathematical knowledge. Our mathematics program encourages students to work cooperatively, communicate mathematically, and make connections between important mathematical topics and the real world.

Our Mathematics curriculum consists of the following broad categories:

The approach to teaching Science is one of inquiry and discovery through investigative experiences. Aligned to state and national standards, the curriculum includes the study of life, physical, earth, space, engineering and environmental science. A research-based learning cycle is used for instruction. Teachers focus students by helping them make transparent their understanding about the content they will be studying. Students then engage in hands-on explorations of the phenomena being investigated. Small and whole group discussion, as well as journal writing, are utilized to help students reflect on their discoveries and to construct understanding that is scientifically acceptable, can be shared with others, and finally, applied to new situations. Through this process, students construct an understanding of scientific concepts at a developmentally appropriate pace, develop critical thinking skills, and increase their ability to understand and problem solve.

The Social Studies curriculum uses both widening horizons and interconnectedness models as students move through the grade levels. This allows for the developmentally appropriate study of self and social living to expand to the larger community and beyond as students progress through the grades. Topics of study are aligned to state and national standards and include basic economics, geography and civics, as well as the history of the local area, state and country. The Social Studies program utilizes many different resources including text, artifacts, field trips, guest speakers, and hands on experiences. Current events and issues are also included in every grade level.